More Than Friendship
Chapter Three
by BitterEloquence and Wyntir Rose
Disclaimer: Transformers belong to Hasbro and Takara, and are licensed to IDW and Dreamworks. Our original characters are our own and any similarity between them and any existing characters from canon or fandom is purely coincidental. We claim no ownership by writing this work.
Authors' Note: Thanks go out to Okami_Myrhibis for betaing this fic for us.
Trailbreaker was sitting in the commissary, a cube of energon in one hand and a report in the other, when a data-pad landed in his lap. It was quickly followed by a quiet chuckle from behind.
"Talked to 'Dive and he put together a sort of playbook of the various strategies we use. Figured I'd save you the picnic."
Trailbreaker looked up at Silverbolt in surprise before giving the data pad a quick once-over, a large grin spreading across his face.
"This is fantastic! Thank you, Bolt!" Suddenly the SUV's grin turned mischievous. "So was this really to save me from the picnic or did you just want to keep me for yourself?"
An equally mischievous look was slanted Trailbreaker's way. "Perhaps you might find it interesting to listen to Skydive drone on for hours on end about tactics and military history but most sane mechs would go stir-crazy and insane."
Trailbreaker chuckled, a deep, rich sound of amusement. "Well, I guess it's to each his own. I've always found it all fascinating. But getting all of this on a data pad is better anyways. Prowl has me and Smokey chasing our own tails right now, so there'd be no time to have a picnic with 'Dive anyways."
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. I've heard he's a bit of a tyrant," Silverbolt admitted with a faint grimace. "I wouldn't want to be under his direct command, that's for sure. But if you're swamped I should get out of your way and let you get back to work."
"Hey, stick around. If you don't have anything to do that is," Trailbreaker said, motioning to the chair across from him. "I'm taking a break whether Prowl likes it or not. After all, Smokescreen's off doing whatever it is that Smokescreen does, and I would sure like the company."
He seemed to consider this for a moment before settling into the proffered chair. "Sure, why not? I don't have to be on patrol for half a cycle. So what does Prowl have you and Smokescreen working on anyway?"
The SUV looked at Silverbolt for a moment, as if gauging him, then shrugged. "I suppose if I can know then so can you. Advantages of rank," he said with a smile. "We're trying to figure out a way to draw the 'Cons away from the next battle. I mean, up until now we've effectively been fighting on their terms. We arrive at a location they've chosen and well after they've dug in. And as a result we're always on the defensive and we're dealing with a ton of collateral damage. Smokey and I are trying to figure out how to minimize that."
The Concorde nodded with a serious look. "That makes sense but they know we want to keep the collateral damage at a minimum so they have the advantage already. They've essentially got an entire planet full of hostages. But I can see where we might come in as a means to try and lure them away."
"That's just it. A planet full of hostages." Trailbreaker nodded. "You know, Hound once told me about how birds sometimes play lame to draw predators away from their nests. I see no reason why we couldn't try something like that. You know, play on that natural 'Con arrogance."
"Yes, I can see what you mean. Not sure how easy it's going to be to convince Slings and the others to play like they're injured but it's certainly worth a shot."
"Well I'm thinking that if we were to-" He suddenly cut himself off as he realized he was heading into Tactician Mode. It was funny, but he found it easy to talk like this to Silverbolt. Like colleagues and friends. It was refreshing to not have to censor himself. "And I'm probably boring you to tears."
Silverbolt smiled warmly when Trailbreaker broke off in chagrin. "No, not at all." The Aerialbot reassured him. "It sounds like a good plan."
The big SUV leaned back in his chair and smiled at the Concorde amiably. "So. How have you been? How are things going with Slings?"
Some of the warmth faded from his face at mention of Slingshot and Silverbolt sagged. "Typical Slingshot," he said simply as if that explained it all. Maybe it did.
Trailbreaker nodded sympathetically and reached across the table to squeeze Silverbolt's hand gently. "I'm sorry to hear you're still having problems with him. Is there anything I can do? I mean, maybe I can help come up with some strategies to make him feel indispensable while not putting him in undue danger?"
Silverbolt smiled sadly and shook his head. "It wouldn't make a difference, he'd still insist on trying to throw himself into the greatest danger imaginable. That's just the way Slingshot is I'm afraid."
"Can I ask why? I mean, why would Slingshot do something like that? Knowing how you feel? And knowing how important he is to the team and the gestalt and to everyone?"
Trailbreaker finally let go of Silverbolt's hand, but didn't withdraw it completely and neither did Silverbolt. Deep down, the jet craved the understanding and quiet companionship he'd found with the SUV.
The Concorde shrugged helplessly. "He thinks because he's the smallest and the slowest that he has the most to prove."
"Ah." Trailbreaker nodded in understanding and looked down. "Yeah, I can understand that. It's hard to be the one who's always at the back of the pack." He sighed softly then looked up at Silverbolt. "But from what I've seen Harriers are deadly in battle. There's got to be a way that we can make him see that his unique abilities make him indispensable."
"They are but when you're in a gestalt filled with super-sonic jets and fighter planes, it's hard to keep up. And Slingshot has managed to turn what he thinks to be inadequacies into outright faults." Silverbolt cycled air through his vents. "I've tried everything I can think of but it does no good."
"Well, you certainly can't ask the others to slow down ... I mean, how slow can you even manage without stalling out? But maybe I can come up with a way of using his VTOL capabilities to all of your advantages. Like in an ambush position. If you don't mind that is? I mean, maybe we can come up with a way to let him slag Seekers without having to chase them."
"You're more than welcome to try. Primus knows I've been trying since we came online." Shrugging helplessly, Silverbolt looked away moodily. "Aside from being run ragged by Prowl, how are you doing?" He was desperate to change the subject away from Slingshot and his eternal attitude.
Trailbreaker saw the look and took Silverbolt's hand again, giving it a gentle and reassuring squeeze, but dropped the subject, respecting the Concorde's silent request. "I'm doing pretty well actually. Working with Smokescreen has been interesting, to say the least. Some of his ideas aren't exactly Autobot material, if you get my meaning." Trailbreaker broke off with a chuckle. "His plans are a little underhanded but never boring, that's for sure. I'm not sure that straight-arrow Prowl is overly thrilled, but I think he's just going to have to learn to-"
He was suddenly cut off by a call from the 2IC. Trailbreaker cocked his head slightly as he listened to the internal comm, nodding periodically as he replied.
"Well, speak of the devil and he shall appear, as the humans say," Trailbreaker muttered as he ended the call. "That was Prowl. I need to get back to it. But maybe we can get together for dinner or something later? I'd love some sane company after a day full of tactics planning."
Silverbolt looked a little regretful but nodded understanding. "Sure, duty calls." He grinned and climbed to his feet. "Don't let him run you down, 'Breaker. And sure, dinner sounds fun." The jet clapped the strategist on the shoulder. "I'll talk to you later, okay?"
"Great! Then it's a date," Trailbreaker replied with a smile before heading off back to the grind.
***
Hound smiled at Mirage as he slipped into the Ligier's quarters, pulling the spy into a kiss as soon as the door closed behind him.
"Hmmm ... I've been wanting to do that all day," he whispered when he pulled away.
Pleasantly surprised, Mirage made a happy noise and kissed his lover back. Slim arms wrapped around the Jeep as the Ligier smiled softly. "Well, 'hello' to you too," the blue mech murmured, optics bright and mischievous.
Hound wrapped his arms around Mirage and pulled the spy tight against him.
"Mnn, my turn now?" Mirage asked a moment before pulling Hound in for another heated kiss. "Hmmm ... I have been wanting to do that all day too," Mirage repeated Hounds words back at him playfully.
"Hmmm," Hound hummed happily, "that just made my day so much better. Remind me to never volunteer to go on patrol with Cliffjumper again. That mech would try the patience of Primus himself."
Mirage's lip curled into a sneer at mention of Cliffjumper. "That's because even Primus himself would take one look at that little slagger and send him right to the Pit," the Ligier growled. "And yes, that was quite foolish of you to volunteer to run patrol with him. Be thankful you didn't run into any Decepticons or he probably would have tried to take them all on himself and gotten the both of you slagged."
"Yup. I should have learned from last time. I guess I'm just perpetually optimistic about mechs," Hound said with a small smile. "So, has you're day been better?" He finally pulled away and ran one gentle finger down one of Mirage's helm crests, taking in his lover's face.
"That would depend on your definition of 'better'. Spent the day doing 'training exercises' with Jazz and the sadistic fragger just about slagged me."
Hound brushed Mirage's other crest before leaning in to kiss him gently. "I think that after the day we've both had, we could both use a drink. Come on, let's go get some dinner and then once we're all refuelled we can think about desert?" he added with a mischievous little grin as he pulled the Ligier toward the door.
The Ligier paused when Hound suggested that, a troubled light flashing through his optics as he looked away. "I tell you what, why don't you go get the energon and I'll get started on that desert." He bypassed the problem with a flawless smile and playfully nudged Hound towards the door.
Hound's optics dimmed and he slumped slightly as he pulled away with a soft sigh. "Yeah, sure. Nothing less than mid-grade, right?" He tried not to sound upset, but only succeeded fractionally.
Mirage felt a twinge of guilt at that look but didn't know how to help ease his lover's hurt. He had to remind himself that they were keeping their relationship quiet to protect Hound. If slaggers like Cliffjumper found out they were seeing each other, he'd make the tracker's life miserable.
"That's fine, here..." Trying to silently make amends, the Ligier leaned forward and kissed Hound one last time. "Love you, and hurry back, hmm?"
The scout returned the kiss quickly before turning away. As he reached the door he turned back and looked Mirage in the optics. "You know, I'm not suggesting that we go make out in front of the whole crew," he said in an even, and soft tone. "Why can't we just have a meal together like colleagues?"
Mirage felt as low as slag when Hound looked at him with those sober optics. Logically, he understood what the Jeep was saying but still there was that illogical fear and need to protect lurking beneath.
"I'm just afraid of people going after you because you're associating with me, Hound. You think Cliffjumper was obnoxious today? Imagine what he would say if he suspected we were together."
Hound took Mirage by the shoulders and smiled at him. "I've already told you that I don't care what that little slagger thinks. I don't care what anyone thinks. But I know you're worried about me, and don't for a minute think that I don't appreciate it. So I promise I'll keep my hands to myself and keep it totally professional."
Cycling air through his vents, the Ligier's shoulders hunched a bit in a tired sag. "If it means so much to you, alright, let's do it." He dredged up a smile.
He hugged Mirage close and whispered in his audio. "Thank you, love."
His smile was a little strained but Mirage tried to make the most of it. He hugged Hound back and briefly allowed himself to just enjoy the feel of his arms around him before stepping back.
"Right, well, let's got get some energon."
When the spy and the scout reached the commissary, there were already a scattering of mechs sitting at the various tables or crashed out on furniture. Mirage caught sight Trailbreaker seated at a table with Silverbolt and he tilted his head towards them. "Want to go sit with Trailbreaker?" he suggested with a curious look.
Hound saw the SUV and the Concorde, saw the way they were leaning so close together almost as if they were leaning in to touch, and his face darkened for a moment before he pulled himself back together.
"Yeah, that sound's fine," he said, sounding maybe a bit too happy at the prospect.
Mirage didn't miss the brief darkening of Hound's features and filed that away for future reference. "Good afternoon, Trailbreaker. Silverbolt. Mind if we join you?"
Silverbolt had been telling Trailbreaker about his fun day of helping fish Fireflight out of the ocean and looked up when Mirage addressed them. Understandably puzzled at the standoffish spy's offer, the jet smiled a tad nervously. "Err...sure, I don't mind. Do you, 'Breaker?"
Trailbreaker looked up at Hound and Mirage, still chuckling at the story. He smiled at them both and was briefly surprised that he wasn't irritated at the sight of them together.
"Nah, of course not," Trailbreaker said brightly, moving over slightly to make room. "The more the merrier, I think. How are you two doing?"
Hound smiled back at Trailbreaker and Silverbolt. "I've been pretty good. Long day of patrol, but other than that real good." He looked over at the dispenser and then turned back to the table. "I'll be right back with some energon. Do you two want anything while I'm there?"
"I'm fine, thank you." Silverbolt murmured, gesturing to his mostly full cube of energon.
Mirage pulled up a chair and settled gracefully into it, curiously regarding the two from across the table. "And how are the two of you? Poor Hound ended up spending the day listening to Cliffjumper."
"Ouch. I'm sorry to hear that Hound. 'Jumper can be a handful, that's for sure," Trailbreaker replied. "Oh, and no thanks, buddy. I'm fine with what I've got."
Hound nodded in silent agreement before moving away to get cubes for him and Mirage.
"I was just telling Trailbreaker about how fun it was to fish Fireflight out of the Pacific this afternoon," Silverbolt admitted with a wry look.
"Sound like oodles of fun," Mirage replied sardonically.
Trailbreaker chuckled and reached over to squeeze Silverbolt's hand companionably. "It must have taken 'Flight ages to get dried out. And of course, I don't imagine he's learned not to watch the dolphins while he flies."
Hound came back to the table with the energon just in time to see that gesture and the easy camaraderie Silverbolt and Trailbreaker had together. He couldn't help but feel a little twinge of jealousy at the sight. Not because he harboured feelings for Trailbreaker, but because his own lover was so aloof and stiff, quite obviously not wanting to be seen in public with him.
Mirage accepted his cube with a murmured thanks and a smile when Hound returned. Hound smiled back at Mirage and as he sat he brushed his thigh against the spy's in a silent and subtle show of affection. Mirage smiled faintly and nudged his leg back with his knee.
"Dolphins, whales....anything shiny...." The jet sighed, shaking his head in bemused disgust. "And yes, it took forever. And listening to him obsess about Ratchet deactivating him the whole way back wasn't exactly fun either."
Trailbreaker looked at Silverbolt with concern. "Why would he think that Ratch would deactivate him? When it comes down to it, it was just a swim. Okay, so this time it was just a swim." He smiled slightly and bumped his shoulder against 'Bolt's.
"Because Ratchet promised to deactivate him the next time he got distracted and crashed, flopped or fell into anything," Silverbolt muttered, "And 'Flight believed him."
"Well it's over now and no one's really the worse for wear. So how about we forget about work and talk about something a little brighter," Trailbreaker said supportively.
"Yes, let's talk about something more pleasant." Silverbolt eagerly jumped at the chance to change the subject. "Anything interesting happening with you two lately?"
"Not much. It's been a bit quiet around here lately," Hound replied as he took a sip of his energon.
"Not exactly a bad thing," Silverbolt pointed out.
"I suppose so. Nothing interesting with me either unless you consider Jazz's sadistic sense of humor interesting," Mirage murmured.
"Sadistic sense of humor?" Trailbreaker asked. "What's he got you running, if I can ask?"
"We're doing training exercises. He might not shout like Ironhide but he's just as merciless and sparkless a fragger," the Ligier grumbled with a sour expression.
Hound nodded and fought the urge to take Mirage's hand or otherwise show his support in an intimate way. That was just the way Mirage was. The Ligier had spent so long being self-contained and standoffish that it was hard to act any other way, and Hound knew that he was just going to have to accept that. But he couldn't help but notice that while Trailbreaker and Silverbolt weren't touching, there was a closeness about them that almost spoke of them being a couple. But surely 'Breaker would have told him if he was seeing anyone. At least he was pretty sure that the big mech would have said something. Mentally shaking himself from the thought, he turned back to the conversation.
"You know, Jazz is such a laid back guy. You'd never peg him as a drill sergeant," he chuckled.
Mirage shrugged. "We can't allow ourselves to get rusty. Even on this dinky little planet there are still plenty of dangers to look out for. A necessary evil I suppose."
Silence descended on the table like an uncomfortable weight. Hound looked at the two big mechs and saw that it was obvious they wanted to continue a conversation but didn't seem to know where to go with it, and so, he made a decision.
"It sounds like we've all had long days. And I don't know about you guys, but I think I might need to call this short." He tossed back his energon and smiled at Silverbolt and Trailbreaker. "I'll see you later, 'Breaker?"
"Yeah, sure thing Hound. See you tonight." Trailbreaker sounded cheerful but there was a shadow of concern in his optics that Silverbolt couldn't help but notice. He looked at his friend, then at Hound, but said nothing.
When Hound tossed his cube back, Mirage followed his example with a concerned look. Something was obviously bugging his lover but he couldn't exactly ask him in front of Trailbreaker and Silverbolt. For all he knew, the thing bothering him was Silverbolt or Trailbreaker.
"Right, you two have a nice night." He stood and walked out so it didn't look like he and Hound were leaving together.
"See ya later Mirage. Bye guys," Hound said with a smile as he stood and made his way to the opposite exit from Mirage.
Trailbreaker shook his head as Hound and Mirage left the room. It was ridiculous how they were sneaking around, and he knew full well that Hound wanted to tell the world, but it was also obvious that Mirage was embarrassed or ashamed of the relationship. It hurt to see his friend treated like that but there was nothing he could do about it really.
Silverbolt sent Trailbreaker a worried look before turning back to his energon. "So did I tell you about the time Fireflight managed to glue himself to the wall?" he asked in an attempt to lighten things up. He dove into the humorous story and did what he could to cheer the unhappy-looking strategist up.
***
As soon as Hound had left the rec room he doubled back through the halls toward Mirage's quarters. After making sure no one was around, he knocked softly, pushing back the feeling that he was sneaking around.
The door opened to reveal a subdued looking Mirage. "You okay?" He shifted to let Hound slip in.
"What?" Hound asked. "Yeah, I'm fine. You just seemed a little uncomfortable." His tone was cheerful but there were shadows in his optics. He stepped up to Mirage and brushed the knuckles of one hand over his cheek gently. "Besides I was done with my drink and I thought that maybe we could break into desert a little early."
Smiling faintly, the Ligier leaned into Hound's hand and moved to hug him gently. "I'm just not a very social person. But that's not what I meant. You seemed kind of unhappy. Is it because Trailbreaker has been spending so much time with Silverbolt?"
Hound was taken aback for a moment. "No, it's not that. I'm glad that he's happy and with as much time as I spend with you I can hardly be upset that he's found a friend." He pulled away from the hug and sighed softly. "I'm not upset that he's found a friend, I'm just worried about where that friendship's heading. The Aerialbots are just so centric and I'm worried that Breaker's going to get hurt. But at the same time, he's been happier in the last few months than I've seen him in a long time, so I feel like I'm being a mother hen. Or petty. I'm not sure which one."
Mirage nodded solemnly, understanding where Hound was coming from. It was a worrisome consideration. "Well, obviously the Aerialbots aren't completely insular because otherwise, Silverbolt wouldn't be friends with Trailbreaker, now would he?" The spy tugged Hound forward again and smoothed his hands along the Jeep's chest before wrapping his arms around his neck. "What's important is that 'Breaker is happy, right? And if this strange friendship happens to turn into something more...well, you can worry about it then. For now, just be happy he's spending time with someone else."
"Yeah, that's what's important," Hound agreed as he pulled Mirage close. "You know, it's funny. It wasn't that long ago that I was asking him when he was planning on settling down, and now I'm upset that he seems to be. Hunh, you'd almost swear I was jealous," he added with a chuckle.
Mirage looked at him with a serious look in his optics. "Perhaps you're having trouble realizing you're no longer the center of his universe," he pointed out with merciless bluntness.
Hound's optics clouded and he pulled away from Mirage a little. "I never thought that I was the center of his universe. I mean how self-obsessed do you think I am?"
"I don't think you're self obsessed," Mirage replied softly. "Trailbreaker is friendly with everyone but he's not really friends with anyone but you. His world revolved around you and I knew that when we started dating and I knew he was upset at losing so much time of your time to me. Now he's found someone else to be friends with and he no longer revolves around you." Still painfully honest, the spy simply shrugged elegantly.
The Jeep shook his head. He didn't want to follow this line of thinking. It lead to too many possibilities and too many strange thoughts. So, he changed the subject. "Look, regardless of all that, I'm worried about him and I have every right to be. He was so depressed before. So sad. And I don't want him to go back to that, and it's probably going to happen with Silverbolt. I mean, he's still just a sparkling."
"What does Silverbolt's age have to do with it?" Mirage asked. "They're not lovers. That's rather obvious considering that Trailbreaker isn't mooning over him or being sickeningly sweet. They're merely friends. You're acting as though they're something more. Why? Would it bother you if they were?"
Hound pulled away completely from Mirage at the spy's comment and shook his head. "It wouldn't bother me at all if they were involved, except that Silverbolt is so inexperienced and so ... so insular. And how can you say that they're not involved. You saw them. Holding hands, touching, acting like any normal couple."
"I think the Aerialbots are simply tactile mechs. They're always standing close or brushing their wings together in a comforting way. I think it's just they way they are. And Trailbreaker seems like a pretty touchy-feely kind of mech himself. So them sitting close to one another and occasionally touching doesn't mean they're together." Mirage shook his head in a sort of private amusement. "If they'd interfaced, the vibe they're putting off would be totally different. And like I said, Trailbreaker would probably be making googly-optics at Silverbolt and he might be doing the same." Shrugging again, the Ligier moved away and settled onto his berth.
"You're right. And I'm being ridiculously silly." Hound dropped his head and sighed softly. He moved to sit next to Mirage on the berth. "He's happy. That's the most important thing, and I just have to get used to the idea that he's not going to be there every time I turn around." After a moment he continued, "I guess I just got used to having him there."
"No, I wouldn't say ridiculous or silly. I think it's a perfectly normal reaction. You're used to him being there for you and now you're going to have to adjust to the idea that he's not going to be there at a moment's notice." Mirage reached up and pulled Hound back to lay beside him on the berth. "I'd say that's a pretty understandable reaction. It's what you do from here that is going to decide if you're going to react to this new development like a mature mech or an immature one." He cupped Hound's chin in one hand and turned the scout's face towards his. "And I happen to know you're a very mature and loving mech who only wants what's best for his friend."
Hound smiled as he was pulled down beside his lover and leaned into the touch. "You know, you always put things into perspective for me." He leaned in and kissed Mirage gently. "You are just beyond incredible, you know that?"
"Of course. And you just remember that the next time you doubt what I say, hmm? Mirage is always right, remember?" Grinning teasingly, the blue mech pulled him in for a kiss that led to much, much more.
